The epitome of ruthless aggression, John Cena is one of the greatest figures to step foot inside the ring. Even after 25 years, he is still going strong, staying relevant among fans who buy his merchandise, making it sell out faster than it can be restocked. Thus, he became an influential wrestler, becoming a source of inspiration for countless fans around the people, who still look up to him.
While Cena is recognized for his larger-than-life persona and his flawless maneuvers, it is quite surprising to learn that he was not a professional wrestler back in school. In fact, what will take his fans by surprise even more is that the sizeable wrestler was once a victim of bullying.
The Hustle Gang Soldier decided to put on his big boy pants and take accountability to ensure that he did not get ganged up on by the bullies. However, this, in turn changed his life for the better as he
John Cena wouldn’t let anything hinder his bodybuilding passion
“Hustle, Loyalty, and Respect” is the mantra that John Cena has been preaching for the past 25 years and has been crucial in his success as a WWE star. To him, this belief has been his ultimate life protocol because he believes that every human being’s life is built upon a standard code of ethics and standards.
This comes as no surprise as he showcases immense discipline by carefully building a physique that is an inspiration for countless gym rats.
However, they would be at a loss for words when they learn that the Suicide Squad actor was once told by his coach to stop lifting weights because it would have affected his baseball bat swinging skills.
The Peacemaker actor appeared as a guest on the Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard, where he recalled that the weight bench came with a set of manuals on using the attachments, becoming his go-to guide for muscle and fitness. However, his baseball coach felt otherwise, suggesting he stop working out. Cena said,
I remember quitting baseball at 15 because my varsity coach said, “Don’t work out because it’s going to ruin your swing.” And I handed him my uniform that day. I was like, ‘I’m going to go back to working out.’
The host sided with Cena’s words, stating that his priority was “very obvious” and that he knew what he wanted to do. This event is perhaps the most important in the history of humankind that decided how WWE would go on to sign one of the most decorated and infectiously popular stars that will forever reshape the company’s history.
John Cena developed his “perseverance” from years of getting bullied in school
In the same interview with the Armchair Expert podcast, the 16-time WWE World Champion recalled how he was getting his “a** kicked starting at 10,” motivating him to “get big” to stop getting bullied. He continued stating how middle and high school were on the same property, compelling him to often encounter his seniors.
He said,
Every day, man, I got my a** kicked or, at the very least, it was a strong nudge so I go tumbling down the hill again. I never fought back, but I never acquiesced.
He mentioned that he was often picked on by other kids because of the way he dressed himself, the people he associated with, and how he did not follow the trends that other kids of his age would follow. However, when the yield of his discipline was evident, he found himself in the same locker room as his seniors. He recalled,
When I was 15, when the yield of 3 to 4 years of constant strength training and eating right in the middle of adolescence takes place, I walk into physical education class with now seniors who were pushing me down the hill, and they were kind of looking at me like, are we going to fight in the locker room?
He remembered a moment from the locker room with a kid who made his life a living hell, where he decided to make amends and forget his actions by being the bigger person. He said,
I remember specifically one kid who literally spearhead the anti-John movement in junior high, and I closed my locker door, and he’s next to me. We’re looking at each other like, is it going to go down? And for some reason at 15, I summoned up the situational awareness to be like, “Hey man, we’re good. Don’t worry about it.” And that was it.
Cena emphasized that the brief conversation worked for him because he was neither picked on nor “effed” again in high school. Nevertheless, he once again reminded Shepard that it only took him a “whole lot of perseverance” and failure in losing fights that made his bullies walk away from him.
WrestleMania 41 will be a two-night event taking place on Saturday, April 19, and Sunday, April 20, 2025.
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